Summer 2025 - Return!

Ferry

Maybe I should have done this before but I have booked the return crossing for the end of our holiday.

I did a price comparison check on the three of the four channel crossing operators from our area.  I discounted DFDS (Calais or Dunkerque) as they don't have anywhere for the dog to go other than in the van for the entire crossing.

Further afield is DFDS from Dieppe to Newhaven.  Newhaven is along the A259 almost door to door. One road! That route also doesn't have a dog lounge and the crossing is around 4 hours.

So from the three I have booked Irish Ferries. Why?  It's the cheapest.  I paid in euros and it came out at £132.10 when it landed in my Halifax account. This is for the van, us and Reggie with access to the "pet den".  

Last year when I returned on the bike from the MotoGP at Assen their ferry "Oscar Wilde" was very clean and was much cheaper than P&O and the Shuttle.

By comparison. For the same date as the Irish crossing and approximate time of sailing, around 1pm to 1.30pm,  from Calais to Dover, P&O would have been £166.49 and Le Shuttle was £207.

That saving over the Shuttle is about three quarters of a tank of diesel. 

Travel Plans

I have spent quite a lot of time burning the midnight oil, quite literally, looking at a route that will take us from the end of the Alsace Route into Switzerland and then in a loop over some of the great passes and back into France.  I was tempted  to dip a toe in Italy.

Once in the area south east of Interlaken the route back across towards Geneva passes close to the border with Italy.

Although we don't skimp when we are away, and certainly aren't van lifers that like to have free parkups all the time, some of the campsite prices in Switzerland are ridiculous even in the low season. Plus some want £6 (in CHF) per night per dog.  

So I am now in re-think mode. The start and end dates are fixed now. We have one site booked in Belgium, Ardennen Camping Bertrix, on the first night after setting wheels on EU soil. The 90 days in 180 Schengen counter can begin.

I am still thinking that the Alsace Route and the Route de Crêtes are still in place.  There are few Camping-Car Aires in that area but France Passion members abound. 

More to come.